AI
Tuesday, June 03, 2008 7:34:38 PM
CUSTOMER DRIVERS for Glycol Fluid monitoring:
(DDI is a distributor/integrator for Hach's Glycol monitoring devices, HIAC GlyCount and HIAC Portable Oil Diagnostics System)
http://www.hachultra.com/index.php/hachultra/hach_ultra_brands/hiac
More info at this link:
http://www.hachultra.com/index.php/hachultra/content/download/2263/16795/version/1/file/DCP_Glycol_Fluid_Cleanliness_Monitoring_ed1.pdf
"Oil production from subsea wells is technically challenging and exceedingly more expensive than surface
production systems. Mechanical equipment is used to control the production process in both surface and
subsea applications. This equipment is installed and operated on the ocean floor and must withstand
extreme operating conditions, including high external and internal pressures as well as high produced oil
temperatures. Similarly, produced oil can be both corrosive and erosive, and extending the life for this
mechanical equipment is a priority and a difficult challenge.
Valve manifolds, hydraulic fluid accumulators and subsea control modules are installed on the ocean floor.
These mechanical systems are used to manage production from oil fields at well locations several
thousand feet below the ocean’s surface. Most subsea valve networks or “Christmas trees” are
hydraulically controlled. The subsea control modules are filled with hydraulic fluid to keep equipment
housings from collapsing under the extreme pressures on the ocean floor. Umbilical cables transport
electric power, control signals, and hydraulic fluid from the platform down to accumulator vessels and the
subsea control module.
Costs for repairing or replacing subsea equipment are enormous. However, lost oil production is the most
significant financial impact facing offshore producers. Consequently, offshore platform operators and
owners demand that equipment be certified clean or free from particle-based contaminants that will lead to
premature equipment wear, damage or failure. Likewise, the fluids used to operate this equipment must
also be certified clean."
Offshore or subsea equipment is tested several times for cleanliness before being installed subsea. Most
end-users require that the equipment and the hydraulic fluid cleanliness be demonstrated at the point-of use,
i.e. the cleanliness must be demonstrated as the equipment is being readied for installation or when
the fluid is being delivered. Equipment and fluids are cleaned and certified at the manufacturing location
when factory acceptance testing (FAT) is performed. Oftentimes, the fluids and equipment will be
evaluated for cleanliness again at a port or loading facility before being transported to the platform.
Sometimes, final cleanliness testing takes place on the platform before the equipment is installed subsea.
Fluid and equipment cleaning are accomplished by flushing the equipment with hydraulic fluid, which is
passed through a filtration system that is connected to the equipment. Fluid samples are drawn at regular
intervals and analyzed for particulate contamination, typically with a microscope and/or laboratory liquid
particle counter. Most flushing systems are manually operated. Flushing is complete when a collected fluid
sample meets the cleanliness classification code that was specified by the customer. In some cases, fluids
and equipment can become overly clean, i.e. fluid samples and testing was continued long after the fluid
and equipment have reached the customer-specified cleanliness level.
Offshore petroleum producers prefer water/glycol hydraulic fluids versus oil-based fluids. The potential for
negative environmental impacts from spilled hydraulic fluids has resulted in a dramatic decline in the use
of oil-based fluids. Macdermid and Castrol are the two most widely recognized glycol fluid suppliers. See
Table 1 for a listing of common glycol hydraulic fluids.
Glycol hydraulic fluids tend to foam under high flow rate and high shear conditions. As such, fluid
producers often add silicon anti-foaming agents to facilitate faster filling of transport containers.
Unfortunately, these anti-foaming agents can form solids at lower temperatures.
Sage
(DDI is a distributor/integrator for Hach's Glycol monitoring devices, HIAC GlyCount and HIAC Portable Oil Diagnostics System)
http://www.hachultra.com/index.php/hachultra/hach_ultra_brands/hiac
More info at this link:
http://www.hachultra.com/index.php/hachultra/content/download/2263/16795/version/1/file/DCP_Glycol_Fluid_Cleanliness_Monitoring_ed1.pdf
"Oil production from subsea wells is technically challenging and exceedingly more expensive than surface
production systems. Mechanical equipment is used to control the production process in both surface and
subsea applications. This equipment is installed and operated on the ocean floor and must withstand
extreme operating conditions, including high external and internal pressures as well as high produced oil
temperatures. Similarly, produced oil can be both corrosive and erosive, and extending the life for this
mechanical equipment is a priority and a difficult challenge.
Valve manifolds, hydraulic fluid accumulators and subsea control modules are installed on the ocean floor.
These mechanical systems are used to manage production from oil fields at well locations several
thousand feet below the ocean’s surface. Most subsea valve networks or “Christmas trees” are
hydraulically controlled. The subsea control modules are filled with hydraulic fluid to keep equipment
housings from collapsing under the extreme pressures on the ocean floor. Umbilical cables transport
electric power, control signals, and hydraulic fluid from the platform down to accumulator vessels and the
subsea control module.
Costs for repairing or replacing subsea equipment are enormous. However, lost oil production is the most
significant financial impact facing offshore producers. Consequently, offshore platform operators and
owners demand that equipment be certified clean or free from particle-based contaminants that will lead to
premature equipment wear, damage or failure. Likewise, the fluids used to operate this equipment must
also be certified clean."
Offshore or subsea equipment is tested several times for cleanliness before being installed subsea. Most
end-users require that the equipment and the hydraulic fluid cleanliness be demonstrated at the point-of use,
i.e. the cleanliness must be demonstrated as the equipment is being readied for installation or when
the fluid is being delivered. Equipment and fluids are cleaned and certified at the manufacturing location
when factory acceptance testing (FAT) is performed. Oftentimes, the fluids and equipment will be
evaluated for cleanliness again at a port or loading facility before being transported to the platform.
Sometimes, final cleanliness testing takes place on the platform before the equipment is installed subsea.
Fluid and equipment cleaning are accomplished by flushing the equipment with hydraulic fluid, which is
passed through a filtration system that is connected to the equipment. Fluid samples are drawn at regular
intervals and analyzed for particulate contamination, typically with a microscope and/or laboratory liquid
particle counter. Most flushing systems are manually operated. Flushing is complete when a collected fluid
sample meets the cleanliness classification code that was specified by the customer. In some cases, fluids
and equipment can become overly clean, i.e. fluid samples and testing was continued long after the fluid
and equipment have reached the customer-specified cleanliness level.
Offshore petroleum producers prefer water/glycol hydraulic fluids versus oil-based fluids. The potential for
negative environmental impacts from spilled hydraulic fluids has resulted in a dramatic decline in the use
of oil-based fluids. Macdermid and Castrol are the two most widely recognized glycol fluid suppliers. See
Table 1 for a listing of common glycol hydraulic fluids.
Glycol hydraulic fluids tend to foam under high flow rate and high shear conditions. As such, fluid
producers often add silicon anti-foaming agents to facilitate faster filling of transport containers.
Unfortunately, these anti-foaming agents can form solids at lower temperatures.
Sage
Sage
